Ross Valley Sanitary District hires new general manager

The administrator of a water district in Mammoth Lakes has been hired as the new interim general manager of the Ross Valley Sanitary District, with the expectation he will become the permanent general manager when his six-and-a-half-month contract expires.

The board Thursday approved by a vote of 4-0 a contract for Greg Norby, general manager of the Mammoth Community Water District. Board member Peter Sullivan was absent.

"We're expecting it to roll over into a permanent position," said Frank Egger, president of the district board.

Norby, who has served as general manager in Mammoth Lakes for the past four years, will begin work at the Ross Valley district on Feb. 15.

Egger said Norby will receive an annual salary of $172,000 — $25,000 less a year than the district's former manager, Brett Richards, who resigned in July 2012 amid questions regarding a $350,000 loan he received to assist him with "securing housing." Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian is investigating whether Richards misused the funds. Egger said Norby will receive no additional money or loan to assist him with housing.

Egger said Norby's 18-year work history includes a stint as water utility manager for the city of Redding, where he was involved in the day-to-day management of Redding's water supply and worked with the city staff in charge of wastewater collection and treatment.

The Mammoth Community Water District provides water and sewer services to the town of Mammoth Lakes, a city of about 8,200 people in Mono County. The Ross Valley district includes some 15,000 property owners in a broad area of the Ross Valley that includes Kentfield, Greenbrae, Larkspur, Ross, San Anselmo and Fairfax.